OREANDA-NEWS. August 26, 2010. In 2008, the trade turnover between Belarus and Lipetsk Oblast reached a record high of USD363.2 million. In 2009, it declined due to the objective reasons. In January-June 2010 the trade amounted to USD 115.9 million, up 56.8% compared to the same period in 2009.

“In 2008 we reached the peak of turnover. Yet it was not big as compared with the Belarus-Moscow which made up about USD 5 billion. But the potential for growth is very high,” Andrei kobyakov said. He explained that the decline in trade in 2009 was due to the objective reasons, but it is not excuse for the two sides to stop at this result. “We are still not close to the level of 2008. So now the main task is to restore the trade to the 2008 level and move further,” the Vice-Premier said.

Belarus pins its trade growth hopes on the development of integration processes, including the integration within the context of the Customs Union, Andrei Kobyakov said. The Vice Prime Minister recalled that in July the Heads of State of the Customs Union member states and the heads of government, as commissioned by the heads of state, signed most important documents on the Customs Union. Customs procedures, which do not comply with the laws of the Customs Union, will soon be eliminated. “We have not had customs control on the border with Russia since 1995. Our colleagues still have control over the goods from third countries. According to the CU documents, there will remain just dozens of items that will be monitored by the Russian customs. All other products will move freely, without any clearance,” Andrei Kobyakov said.

Talking about the overall development of the relations with Lipetsk Oblast, Andrei Kobyakov noted that this region is among Belarus’ most promising partners. Belarus and Lipetsk Oblast have a similar economic development pattern; both of them have a developed manufacturing industry and agricultural industry.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that Belarus can supply more machines, including farm machines (tractors, grain harvesters), household appliances, elevators and component parts to elevators to Lipetsk Oblast. As Belarus has a trade deficit with Lipetsk Oblast, Belarus seeks to redress the misbalance and build up exports.

Andrei Kobyakov believes that in general Belarus and Lipetsk Oblast are well-positioned to deepen cooperation.

During the ongoing visit of the Lipetsk Oblast delegation to Belarus, the government of Belarus and the Lipetsk Oblast administration signed an action plan for 2010-2012 to expand cooperation.

In H1 2010, Belarus’ major exports to Lipetsk Oblast were refrigerators, freezers and refrigerating equipment, trucks, non-electric appliances to make food, condensed milk, milk powder and cream, washing machines, RIC engines, fibreboard, butter. The agricultural industry of Lipetsk Oblast uses machinery made by Minsk Tractor Works, Bobruiskagromash and Gomselmash.

From Lipetsk Oblast Belarus imported flat-rolled products and cast iron.

Belarusian agricultural producers are ready to offer new sorts of winter triticale, barley, potatoes, and pedigree livestock. Lipetsk Oblast retailers maintain close contacts with Belarusian enterprises that produce consumer goods. The bulk of Belarus-made products are supplied via dealers located in Moscow, Voronezh and Kursk.